כא ת"ר לעולם
21 R'Abbahu said on R'Hanina's authority: Better had a man secretly transgress than publicly profane God's<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'Heaven's'.');"><sup>40</sup></span> name, for it is said: As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God: Go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but my holy name shall ye not profane.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ezek. XX, 39.');"><sup>41</sup></span> R'Il'ai the Elder said: If a man sees that his [evil] desire is conquering him, let him go to a place where is unknown, don black and cover himself with black,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His sombre garments may subdue his lust.');"><sup>42</sup></span> and do as his heart desires,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he is still unable to resist.');"><sup>43</sup></span> but let him not publicly profane God's name.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By sinning where he is known.');"><sup>44</sup></span> But that is not so, for we learnt: He who is careless<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'has no compassion'.');"><sup>45</sup></span> of his Master's honour, it were well for him that he had not come Into the world. Now, to what does this refer? - Rabbah said: To one who gazes at the [rain]bow.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which was regarded as the manifestation of God's glory, and to gaze upon it was disrespectful (cf. Ex. XXIV, 9-11) .');"><sup>46</sup></span> R'Joseph said: To one who secretly transgresses!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because he thereby shews that he fears man more than God. ihphen iht');"><sup>47</sup></span> - There is no difficulty: the one means where he can subdue his evil desires; the other, where he cannot. We learnt elsewhere: Credit is not allowed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' , v. also n. 6.');"><sup>48</sup></span> for the profanation of the [Divine] Name, whether It is unwitting or intentional.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Mishnah, Aboth, IV, 5.');"><sup>49</sup></span> What is meant by 'credit is not allowed? ' - Said Mar Zutra: They [sc. Heaven] do not act like a shopkeeper.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who gives long credit and then demands payment for many items; but every profanation is punished immediately.');"><sup>50</sup></span> Mar the son of Rabina said: This is to teach that if it [sc. one's account of sin merit] is equally balanced, [the profanation of God's name] tips the scale.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If his wrongdoings included this. God does not wait - i.e., 'give credit' - until another sin is committed, for that itself tips the scale. - ihphen Maharsha. [Rashi's explanation is here understood in the sense of comparing, balancing the sins against the good deeds.]');"><sup>51</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: A man should always